To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of personalized polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant on repairing children’s skull defects.

Nine cases of pediatric patients with skull defects (2-10 years) who underwent skull repair after debone valve decompression in Neurosurgery Department of Hunan Chirdren’s Hospital from March 2017 to April 2020 were selected. Nine children were treated with skull defect repair respectively with personalized PEEK implant which was prepared through three-dimensional reconstruction technology and three-dimensional printing technology. Retrospective analysis was applied to compare the preoperative and postoperative imaging pictures to evaluate the repair of skull defects.

All children with PEEK implants were well fitted and well plastic for skull repair. CT and MRI examination showed no artifacts interference and the PEEK implant was stably fitted in pediatric patients after operation. All patients had no infection, intracranial hemorrhage, and subcutaneous effusion as well as dysfunction of organs of the body including central nervous system, and no other long-term complications appeared. All patients were followed up for more than half a year. The incision recovered well with no deformity in the head of the child. Neurological and cognitive functions recovered significantly.

The application of personalized PEEK implants can better match the shape of the defect and protect the brain tissue. The PEEK material has good biocompatibility and no adverse reactions occurred after surgery. 3D printing personalized PEEK implant technology can be widely used in children’s cranioplasty.